by
Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker
Mentioning that the deadlocked jury ultimately voted 10-2 to acquit, Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker announced Thursday that he won't retry former Grand Rapids police officer Christopher Schurr in the April 2022 shooting death of motorist Patrick Lyoya.
A criminal jury must be unanimous in its verdict or a mistrial is declared.
Becker said he re-examined the case, the defense's arguments, the jury selection, and "basically what it boils down to is I don't think we reach a different verdict if I do a retrial in this case."
He said the jury, which he described as very conscientious, initially voted 4-4-4 — four guilty, four not guilty, and four undecided. He said it then shifted to seven not guilty and five guilty, and eventually to 10-2 in favor of acquittal.
"I know there are many members of the community who are disappointed," he said.
Schurr chased Lyoya, who fled on foot after being pulled over for having a license plate that did not belong on the car he was driving.
The shooting was captured on video.
Lyoya, a 26-year-old immigrant from Central Africa, was killed about three minutes after the traffic stop began. Schurr, who joined the force in 2015, tackled the driver when he ran and then fired into the back of his head during a brief tussle, according to a video recorded by Lyoya's passenger.
Schurr testified in court that he feared for his life when he shot Lyoya.
While Schurr is a free man, he's not likely to get another job in law enforcement.
